Amnesty International Report 2014/15 - Tanzania

United Republic of Tanzania
Head of state: Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete
Head of government: Mizengo Peter Pinda
Head of Zanzibar government: Ali Mohamed Shein

The constitutional review process continued, although challenges threatened to hinder the process. A Commission of Inquiry was established to investigate human rights abuses including at least 13 killings committed by security agencies during an anti-poaching operation conducted in October 2013. People with albinism remained at risk of being killed for their body parts and violence against women continued with impunity.

Constitutional developments

In February 2014, the Constituent Assembly was inaugurated to discuss the draft Constitution proposed by the Constitutional Review Committee. Proceedings suffered a setback in April when a coalition of opposition parties walked out in protest, accusing the ruling party of interfering with the process. In October, the Constituent Assembly adopted the draft Constitution amid claims by the opposition and civil society groups that the voting process was irregular. President Kikwete announced that the constitutional referendum would take place in April 2015 despite a September agreement by all political parties to postpone it until after the 2015 elections.

Excessive use of force

In October 2013, security agencies including the armed forces used excessive force against civilians in an anti-poaching operation called Operation Tokomeza. At least 13 civilians were killed and many more suffered serious injuries. There were also reports of torture, including rape, destruction of property and killing of livestock by security agencies during the operation. In June 2014, President Kikwete, on the recommendation of Parliament, established a Commission of Inquiry with a three-month mandate to investigate human rights abuses committed during Operation Tokomeza. The Commission of Inquiry started its work in mid-August by visiting victims in affected regions. The Commission had not completed its investigations by the end of the year.

Discrimination – attacks on people with albinism

There was one report of an albino person who was killed for his body parts. At least five attempted killings were reported. In one such case, a man was killed as he defended his spouse. The government's efforts to prevent human rights abuses against people with albinism remained inadequate.

International scrutiny

In June 2014, the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights found that Tanzania had violated the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights by prohibiting individuals from contesting presidential and parliamentary elections unless sponsored by a political party. The Court directed Tanzania to take constitutional and legislative measures to remedy the violation, publish a summary of the judgment within six months in both English and Kiswahili languages, and to publish the entire judgment on the government's website for one year. By the end of the year, Tanzania had not reported to the African Court on the measures taken to comply with the judgment.

Violence against women and girls

Sexual and other forms of gender-based violence, particularly domestic violence, remained widespread. In the towns of Mbeya and Geita alone, domestic violence resulted in the deaths of 26 and 27 women respectively during the first half of the year.